South Wales Scorpions win competitive match for first time in almost a year

Finally South Wales Scorpions have won a competitive match at first team level after defeating London Skolars 46-18

It took 342 days and 16 consecutive defeats but finally South Wales Scorpions have won a competitive match at first team level, writes Ian Golden.

Last week the Scorpions came away with a disappointing two point defeat, but this, their first win of the season, wasn’t even close. Scorpions dominated from virtually start to finish as London Skolars put in a very poor day at the office losing 46-18 at home to the rampant Welsh.

On their first real attack of the game, Matt Wilcox stormed over the line after only five minutes to give Scorpions the lead. Emanuelli converted.

Skolars forced a goal-line drop-out and from the resulting set, Will Lovell ran over but former Scorpion Courtney Davies missed the kick.

Scorpions extended their lead on the quarter hour after a well worked set when Mike Connor forced his way past the Skolars pack. Emanuelli goaled to make the score 12-4.

The third came on 19 minutes when an unmarked Kyle Scrivens couldn’t believe his luck as he calmly caught the ball to ground in the corner. Emanuelli converted well from the touchline to make it 18-4.

And there should have been a fourth. Again unmarked, Scrivens caught Wilcox’s forward pass to go over but the referee rightfully disallowed the try.

Skolars had their chances. After missing a goal-kick, Davies should have had a try back against his former side but dropped the ball as diving for the line.

But they did eventually get over the line when Mufaro Mvududu did well to stretch out under pressure. Davies missed the kick.

He didn’t miss the next conversion nine minutes after the interval after hooker Martyn Smith evaded a number of players to sneak his way under the sticks.

May’s Championship 1 Player of the Month Connor Farrer looked to join the party but was held up over the line 10 minutes into the second half in his first real chance to score.

The Welsh scored from their next attack. Some excellent play ten metres out led to Greg Wilde setting up Chris Vitalini to score under the sticks. No problems for Emaneulli to convert and the Scorpions went 24-14 up.

A stunning try from Emanuelli followed as he chip kicked and successfully chased twice to score under the posts and easily converted before Crusaders loanee Greg Wilde sealed the win with 16 minutes to go and Emanuelli converted again to put Scorpions 36-14 up.

Nothing was going right for the Skolars. Iliess Macani dived over the line to potentially get a try back but he dropped the ball at the last second.

Mike Connor dived over to rub salt into Skolars’ wounds. Emanuelli missed but Scorpions weren’t finished yet. Farrer added his customary try and Emanuelli converted to make the score 46-14.

And to cap a poor performance for the Londoners, Mvududu must be credited for unchallenged dropped ball number three for Skolars as they blew another chance when running in for a try two minutes from the end.

The last word did go to the Skolars as Lovell fought his way over for this second of the game. Davies missed again as his old club celebrated an outstanding victory.

South Wales Scorpions under 19s consolidated their position at the top of the Championship South under 19 league as they delivered a stunning performance at London Skolars on Saturday afternoon, charging to a 40-0 win.

The Welsh were excellent in both attack and defence as they stopped everything that a determined Skolars threw at them, while scoring seven excellent tries.

Connor Davies scored the first for Scorpions on eight minutes following a scrum. Ben Jones converted.

There was almost a second try straight away but Marcus Webb was pushed into touch as he was going for the line.

Skolars were forceful in attack but great defending stopped four potential Skolars tries, two chances coming from goal-line drop-outs they forced as they put Scorpions to the sword. Gethyn Lloyd was the major star stopping two of them with well taken catches, doing similar with another opportunity in the second half.

Wiry winger James Taylor scored Scorpions second on 22 minutes with Ben Jones converting again while after a well worked set, Dan Maiden crashed over for the third. Jones kick hit the post in his only miss of the day.

A yellow card didn’t help matters for Skolars a few minutes before the break and the Welsh took advantage with Connor Davies scoring his second of the day and Scorpions’ fourth. 22-0 up at half-time.

It took nine minutes of the second half for the Scorpions to add to their tally. Joe Festa dived over and Jones converted.

Jones added the sixth just after the hour with the try of the day – a 70 metre try stepping a few on the way before converting himself.

Dan Maiden scored the seventh and final try six minutes before the end after a good set of six following a scrum.

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